WASHINGTON — A Gardiner man was taken by Lifeflight of Maine helicopter to a hospital in Lewiston Monday afternoon after the flatbed truck he was driving crossed the eastbound lane of Route 17, near Fitch Road, crashed into a field and caught fire.

Deputies with the Knox County Sheriff’s Office responded to the single-vehicle crash that was reported just after noon Sept. 28, along with members of the Washington, Union and Somerville fire departments and Union Ambulance Service. Route 17 was closed to through traffic for a while early Monday afternoon, and traffic remains restricted to one lane as of 4 p.m., with only eastbound traffic being allowed through while clean up continues.

According to Chief Deputy Tim Carroll, Scott Ware, 43, of Gardiner, was driving a 2010 Peterbilt west on Route 17 when he failed to negotiate a curve and continued forward, crossing the eastbound lane into a field. The 18-wheeler truck, which was loaded with new Fisher snowplows and equipment, traveled another 300 feet off the road and ended up rolling over onto its roof.

It is not yet known why Ware apparently did not turn as he approached the curve, said Carroll.

Carroll said the initial call to 911 reported that the truck was on fire and Ware was trapped inside. He said that a passerby stopped and extinguished the fire, and then waited for first responders to help extricate Ware.

Ware was driving for PEP Transportation, which owns the truck.

Union Ambulance initially transported Ware to Pen Bay Medical Center in Rockport, where LifeFlight was routed to and later transferred him to Lewiston. Carroll said Ware sustained non-life threatening injuries.

Reach Editorial Director Holly S. Edwards at hollyedwards@penbaypilot.com and 207-706-6655.